Last Updated: 24/06/2026
What to Feed Your Pet in Winter: A Vet's Guide to the Winter Bowl
Simple adjustments to your pet's bowl to support their health and comfort through the colder months.
Author: Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Reading Time: 8 minutes - short read
Winter doesn't dramatically change your pet's nutritional needs, but there are a few thoughtful tweaks you can make to support hydration, joint health, and coat condition during the colder months. Here's what our vets recommend.
Do Pets Need More Food in Winter?
Most pets don't need more food just because it's cold. Pets living indoors with central heating aren't expending significantly more energy to keep warm. In fact, many actually become less active in winter, which means the bigger risk is weight gain, not weight loss.
Adjust portions to your pet's activity level, not the calendar. If your dog is getting shorter walks or your cat is barely leaving their favourite sunny spot, it's worth slightly reducing their daily intake rather than increasing it.
The exception: Working dogs, outdoor pets, or very active animals who maintain their routine regardless of weather may need a modest 10–15% caloric increase. When in doubt, monitor their body condition score rather than going by weight alone.
For more information, our guide to Do Pets Need More Food in Winter? has tips for keeping your pet hydrated and healthy while avoiding unwanted Winter weight gain.
How to Build a Winter Bowl
You don't need to overhaul your pet's diet — small additions to their existing meals can make a meaningful difference.
Here's a simple four-step approach:
1. Start with quality dry food as your base
Kibble can remain the foundation of the bowl. Just adjust the portion based on your pet's current activity level, following the feeding guidelines on pack as a starting point.
2. Add wet or fresh food
Wet food is around 70–80% water, making it one of the easiest ways to boost hydration. This is particularly important for cats. This is because cats evolved from desert animals with a naturally low thirst drive and can be reluctant to get up and seek out a water bowl when they're settled in a warm spot. Wet food brings the water to them.
For dogs, wet food adds variety and can increase meal satisfaction without a significant calorie increase. When adding wet food, replace around 25% of the dry food calories rather than adding it on top.
3. Add an air or freeze-dried topper
A small sprinkle of a quality topper adds variety, encourages eating and can support skin and coat health. Keep it to around 10% of daily calories — these products are nutrient-dense and easy to overfeed.
4. Finish with a splash of warming broth
A small pour of pet-safe bone broth adds warmth, encourages drinking and can entice fussier eaters. Choose low-sodium broths made for pets, and avoid anything containing onion, garlic or excessive salt.
Learn more about bowl building here.
Important: All additions count toward your pet's daily caloric intake. If you're adding wet food and a topper, reduce the dry food portion accordingly. Overfeeding is the most common winter feeding mistake.
Nutrients That Can Support Joints, Skin and Coat
Cold, dry air - both outdoors and from indoor heating systems - can lead to itchy skin, a dull coat and flaky fur. Cold weather can also make joints feel stiffer, particularly in senior pets.
A good quality balanced diet provides the foundation, but targeted nutrients can offer additional support during winter:
- Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA): Found in marine fish and algae oil, these have strong evidence for supporting skin barrier health and reducing inflammation. Particularly helpful for pets who develop dry or itchy skin in winter. Omega 3s also offer clinically proven joint support.
- Glucosamine, chondroitin and green-lipped mussel: These compounds support cartilage and joint fluid health. Cold weather can increase stiffness in arthritic pets, and a joint supplement may help manage day-to-day comfort.
When to Consider Supplements
Supplements aren't automatically necessary just because it's winter. Think of them as targeted support for specific needs, not a seasonal routine.
Three types that can be helpful in winter:
- Joint support: If you notice your senior pet rising slowly, hesitating before stairs or seeming stiff on cold mornings, a joint supplement containing fish or algae oil, glucosamine, chondroitin or green-lipped mussel may help.
- Skin and coat: If your pet develops dry, flaky skin or a dull coat during the colder months, an omega-3 fatty acid supplement can help restore the skin barrier.
- Calming support: Winter brings storms, disrupted routines and more time indoors. If your pet shows signs of anxiety during storms or seasonal change, natural calming supplements may help.
Learn more about anxiety in pets.
Check out or Vet Guide to Pet Supplements.
We recommend checking with your vet or our Pet Circle Vet Squad before starting supplements, particularly if your pet is on medication or has an existing health condition.
Common Winter Feeding Mistakes
- Overfeeding inactive pets: The most common mistake. If activity drops, so should portions.
- Forgetting about hydration: Indoor heating dries out the air and our pets. Wet food, broths and fresh water stations are all helpful.
- Over-supplementing: Adding multiple supplements without understanding what each does, or whether your pet needs them can create nutritional imbalances. Before starting supplements it's worth seeking guidance from a vet.
Treating dogs and cats the same: Cats have higher protein requirements and much lower thirst drives than dogs. Always tailor your approach to species.
Species-Specific Tips
Dogs
- Small breeds and toy dogs: Lose heat faster than large dogs due to their surface-area-to-mass ratio. They may genuinely benefit from slightly increased calories if spending time outdoors.
- Senior dogs: May benefit from slightly warmed meals and increased joint support. Consider more frequent, smaller meals to aid digestion.
- Active breeds: If exercise routines don't change in winter, maintain normal portions. For less active dogs, reduce slightly and add puzzle feeders to keep them mentally stimulated.
Cats
- Wet food is non-negotiable: Cats' low thirst drive combined with the drying effects of indoor heating makes adequate hydration especially critical in winter. Aim for at least 50% wet food in their daily diet.
- Monitor portions closely: Cats can become very sedentary in winter and are prone to weight gain. Combine portion control with enrichment activities to keep them moving.
- Urinary health: Dehydration increases the risk of urinary tract issues in cats. Wet food, water fountains and multiple water sources can all help.
When to Talk to a Vet
If your pet is losing weight despite eating well, showing reduced interest in food, has a noticeably dull coat or seems unusually stiff or uncomfortable in winter, it's worth a vet check. These can be signs of underlying conditions that go beyond seasonal dietary changes.
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad is available online for personalised feeding advice tailored to your pet's age, breed and health status.
Winter Feeding FAQs
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed May 27 2026
Written by Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Veterinarian
Dr Olivia graduated from Murdoch University in 2015 and worked in Western Australia before moving to Sydney to work in specialist practice as an avian and exotics veterinarian. Olivia has thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of species and interesting cases in her time as an exotics veterinarian. She has a particular soft spot for rabbits and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of rabbit medicine and surgery. She also has many years of experience working with dogs and cats as well as an array of wildlife.
